Townsend - Gets a kick out of insulting people, partly for their own amusement, and partly for his own amusement. The face on the avatar is a modified, modern insult gesture partially hidden by the guitar and musician context, but it's there.

The second avatar is another gesture. It's a mock surprise gesture, though you could also interpret it as a mock anger signal. Given the context, mock surprise works better. It's an expression you use with your friends or appreciate in others, or in movies. It says "OH MY GOD IT'S...something not impressive." You play with the audience, exaggerating your interest and delight which suggests how apathetic you are. But really apathetic people don't care enough to make jokes and play with people. So you're really feigning apathy as well as interest/surprise.

Both avatars suggest you're more social than you think and like to fuck with people, but not to hurt them.

That's interesting, but I'm not sure why people jump to assume the worst. Why assume that his avatars represents what he lacks rather than what he identifies as his talents? The dark interpretations always seem appealing and incisive, but I don't necessarily think they're accurate.

Townsend - Gets a kick out of insulting people, partly for their own amusement, and partly for his own amusement. The face on the avatar is a modified, modern insult gesture partially hidden by the guitar and musician context, but it's there.

I don't think the middle finger thing was at all intended, and I never actually thought of it. But, the guy's stage persona in that band was built around humorously insulting the audience.

Originally Posted by ThatsWhatHeSaid

The second avatar is another gesture. It's a mock surprise gesture, though you could also interpret it as a mock anger signal. Given the context, mock surprise works better. It's an expression you use with your friends or appreciate in others, or in movies. It says "OH MY GOD IT'S...something not impressive." You play with the audience, exaggerating your interest and delight which suggests how apathetic you are. But really apathetic people don't care enough to make jokes and play with people. So you're really feigning apathy as well as interest/surprise.

Both avatars suggest you're more social than you think and like to fuck with people, but not to hurt them.

Hm... Interesting to think about, I'll have to ponder this for a while.